Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-12-15
REPORTS oFTwo COMMITTEES
Addressed to the United States
Indian Agent.

The following are the resolutions
adopted and presented to Agent
Owen, by a committee authorized
to make propositions for the set
Element of differences between the
two parties, said committee con-
sisting of, William P. Ross, Jas.
NJ. Keys, David Muskra., Geo.
Sanders, Daniel Redbird, w. P.
Boudinot
First.-We are directed TO repeat
in explicit terms the assurance of
the earnest desire and efforts Of
themselves and other members of
the National party TO preserve or
der, maintain law and administer
Justice in the Cherokee nation.
In order to do this they demand as
condition precedent and in dis.
pensable that the present arm ed
and irresponsible body of men now
in possession of the capital and
other public buildings and offices
at Tahlequah, acquired by force
and violence, be Immediately dis
armed and disbanded.
Second.-That the status as it
existed prior to the seizure of the
executive office on the 7th inst,
and Of all others subsequent to
that act of seizure, be fully res
tored.
Third.-When the preceding
conditions have been complied
with, that the National party will
be willing to refer to arbitration
the construction ofthe constitution
and laws of the Cherokee nation,
which relate to the election of the
principal and assistant principal
chiefs and members of the nation
al council, obligating themselves
to abide by the result Of such ar
bitration; the hibitrators to be
chosen by mutual consent from
among disinterested citizens Of the
Cherokee nation.
If there is q citizen of this nation
who is or can be a disinterestcd
arbitrator, he's in the crazy house
or has been dead half a century.
The following is the reply of the
committee selected TO represent
Mayes and Smith, and like the
other addressed to Agent Owen.
Without quoting the introduction
as was done with the other, the
direct answers to propositions are
only quoted:
In so far as the first proposition
expresses the hope and honest
desire TO preserve the peace, con-
tinue the government and secure
life and property, we heartily en-
dorse it and hereby pledge our
selves and those we represent to a
jealous and earnest support of the
same. The conditions however
upon which this peace. order and
protection are offered and allega-
tions therein made, are such that TIVE
cannot submit TO or admit First
Because the capitol and Offices are
not in the hands Of an armed mob,
bat on the contrary are in the
hands Of the regularly elected and
constitutional Offices Of all branch
es Of the government of the Chero-
kee nation. SecoLd-Mr. Dennis
w. Bushyhead and Mr. Rabbit
Bunch are not now and bave not
been, since the 7th day of Novem-
Der, principal and assistant chiefs,
and consequently have no right to
the places claimed.
Believing that the constituted
authorities Of the Cherokee nation
in its executive, judicial or legis-
lativo branches will be fully COM
petent and able to deal with and
settle every question relating to
the management Of the govern
ment of the Cherokee nation, in
cluding the present misunderstand-
ing. If such there be, we respect
fully decline any profler Of arbitra-
ton until il shall have been shown
more clearly than at this time it
appears, that our laws are INSULT
cient.
However, should the committee
and those it represents so far for
get duty as 10 make an appeal
from the execution of the consti-
tuition and laws Of the Cherokee
nation, which many of them have
sworn support and all are in duty
bound TO uphold, so be it. Forti'
fed as we believe ourselves TO be
in the right and under the law, we
will not shrink from or evade any
investigation Of the merits OF our
course by an impartial tribunal
And generally, we decline theil
proposition, because Joel B. Mayei
and Samuel Smith were legally
elected principal and assistant
principal chiefs at the late election
held on the first Monday in Au
gust, 1857, and that the committed
and those they represent Chat Il
fha m aforffv IN the eQnafel refused